DEAR CAROLYN: Thank you for taking my question last week (about disagreements with my boyfriend.) I was surprised when you included the domestic violence link because he had never been violent.

He still hasn’t been, but that weekend he yelled at me pretty bad, and systematically insulted my entire character. When we talked normally he said he was purposely trying to hurt my feelings.

He admitted he should have communicated better, but never apologized for yelling, though I apologized for “setting him off” multiple times. I broke up with him. — DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AGAIN

ANSWER: Every person who becomes violent was, preceding that point, not violent.

Plus, domestic violence education is applicable to situations of verbal/emotional abuse, because they’re just different points on the same continuum. When someone thinks it’s OK to cause you deliberate harm in one way, how much of a leap is it to another kind of deliberate harm?

As for why I made abuse connections when you hadn’t even mentioned yelling, it was this: “He feels that if we go somewhere together we SHOULD spend every second together.” That’s classic control, which is a predictor of relationship violence. It’s in the warning-signs section of the pamphlet.

Even though you broke up (phew), I think you still would benefit from reading more on the topic. “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin de Becker is eye-opening, and a quick and absorbing read. Take care.

DEAR CAROLYN: My husband and I are at an impasse in our relationship. We cannot see each other’s points of view and are just existing in a miserable state. I’ve begged for marriage counseling for a year, which just yesterday he reluctantly agreed to.

However, he has basically stated that when marriage counseling fails (not if), “I give up.” We have kids and we love each other, we just can’t seem to live together right now. Am I wasting my time saving a relationship that he sees as doomed? — MARRIAGE ON THE CLIFF

ANSWER: He agreed to marriage counseling, so go. Even if it fails, counseling won’t have been a waste because it’s a basic step before giving up altogether. That may seem silly, but it can be important to be able to tell yourself you “tried everything.”

And, if you choose well, your therapist can help you through whatever the next step happens to be.

One suggestion before you start: Go into counseling looking for new ways to understand what’s happening, new ways to frame your marriage, new ways to speak to your husband, versus a new way to save the marriage or get your husband to see your side. Set only the goals that are within your control.

Page 2 of 2 - RE: MARRIAGES “FAILING”: I hate that term. I read the other day about someone’s marriage failing after 35 years and three kids. Um, no. It ended. Lots of good came out of it, and then things changed, and it ended.

“Failed” makes it sound as if the fact of being married is the accomplishment. It is also terribly judgmental.

OK, said my piece. — ANONYMOUS

ANSWER: Quite well, thanks. We were talking about the possibility that counseling would fail, but the argument still applies.